The Sunday People

Apparently, they're going to question the legality of our last-minute deadline signing by claiming that the documents were received by the FA after the midnight deadline had passed.

Rather than do their research - at which point they discover that the important time is that when the documents were actually sent - they'd rather print this shabby excuse for a story. This, I'm afraid, is typical of journalism across the board these days. Today's newspapers thrive on prejudice, sensationalism and little regard for the facts. Rather than accept this state of affairs like sheep (after all, couldn't these newspapers be doing more to right genuine wrongs, or stand up for people being oppressed the world over, or even start mobilising public opinion about global warming?), it's time something was done about this.

For the record, if Pandiani's signing wasn't legal, why did the FA stamp it? Why was he given international clearance within 24 hours? It's at this point that the People's story - like so many they and their fellow tabloid rags run - falls on its arse.

Oh, and Wales beat England 11-9 in the rugby last night, while I also predict that England will lose to South Africa in the cricket today and Philadelphia will be beaten by New England in the Superbowl tonight. I would have watched that - wife permitting, of course - except I've discovered that Future Studio training clashes, so once again work gets in the way. And I thought I'd gone self-employed to avoid that kind of conflict...